Top 10 NBA Players of All Time
Every man’s dream is either to watch NBA play or play at the NBA. No wonder because the National Basketball Association is considered to be the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world. NBA was founded on June 6, 1946, in New York City. It was first known as the Basketball Association of America and three years later changed its name to National Basketball Association on August 3, 1949, after merging with National BasketBall League.
Thirty teams are comprising NBA, 29 from the United States, and 1 team from Canada. Each team plays 82 games in the regular season that runs from the month of October to April, with playoffs extending to June. Being part of the NBA is one of the most coveted dreams of any basketball player as they are the world’s best-paid athletes.
10. Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun "Shaq" O'Neal is one of the greatest players in NBA history. He is also one of the tallest and heaviest players ever. Over his nineteen-year career, he played for six teams. In addition to his basketball career, he was a sports analyst and a rapper, music producer, and DJ. He has released four rap albums and goes on tours as a DJ known as DIESEL. In-game, he established himself as an overpowering low post presence. He became famous for his physical frame that gave his power against his opponents on the court. His powerful dunks broke the steel backboard supports. He also has a move called the Black Tornado or Drop Step that proved to be an effective offensive weapon.
9. Kobe Bryant
Black Mamba as he was known, Kobe Bryant’s lasting legacy is his love and dedication to master himself in the field of basketball. In an interview, he elaborated on how he came upon his nickname Black Mamba. It was his alter-ego to help him distance himself from the low-points of his life and keep a level head in his games.
Kobe joined the NBA straight from high school and played with the Los Angeles Lakers in his entire career. He was a shooting guard and won many accolades: two-time NBA Finals MVP winner, 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), 18-time All-Star, five NBA championships, to name a few.
He obtained the athletic genes from his father, Joe Bryant, a former NBA player. Due to physical decline, he retired after the 2015-16 season
Kobe passed away recently due to an accident from a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his daughter Giana.
8. Tim Duncan
Duncan of the Spurs was known as The Big Fundamental. He played by the book with moves such as his midrange bank shot and perfect position defense. He was a former basketball player and an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.
He started his athletic career as a swimmer and turned to basketball after an unfortunate hurricane destroyed the only Olympic-sized pool in his homeland. He joined the NBA after college and he was regarded as the greatest power forward while also playing at a center for the majority of his career.
His critics describe him as boring because of his style of playing according to the books. Sports Illustrated even described him as a "quiet, boring MVP", after his first championship ring.
7. Larry Bird
Nicknamed "The Hick from French Lick", Bird is a basketball player, coach, and executive in the NBA. Bird started at small forward and power forward for the Celtics for 13 seasons.
After retiring as a player, Bird served as head coach of the Indiana Pacers from 1997 to 2000.
He gained the title NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997–1998 season and president of basketball operations for the Pacers until 2012.
As of today, Bird is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, NBA Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
6. Wilt Chamberlain
Chamberlain played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He is the only player to score 100 points in a single NBA game or average more than 40 and 50 points in a season and won two NBA championships.
5. Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. basketball player and former president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. In his rookie season, he won a championship and an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player and won four more championships with the Lakers during the 1980s. In 1991, he retired after announcing that he had contracted HIV. In 1992, he returned to play in the All-Star Game and won the All-Star MVP Award. Gaining disapproval from his fellow players, he stopped playing for another four years, but returned in 1996 to play 32 games for the Lakers, before retiring for good.
4. Bill Russell
Russell played center for the Boston Celtics in his 13-year career. He was a core piece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA championships. Bill Russel retired his game on March 12, 1972.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Playing for 20 seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks, Abdul’s career as a center won him a record of six-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), a record 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA selection, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member
2. LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr has played for the Los Angeles Lakers His accomplishments include three NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, three Finals MVP Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He also holds the record for playoff points, is third in all-time points, and eighth in all-time assists.